The best boutique and luxury hotels in Jaipur, India, for art and design lovers

With its blush-pink walls, dreamy palaces, and streets layered with history, Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan in Northwestern India, has been inspiring creatives for decades. From Nike shooting a campaign among centuries-old stepwells and royal courtyards to Dior giving a couture spin to traditional gota patti (a style of embroidery) on a limited-edition bag, inspiration is everywhere.

The best bit? You don’t just have to admire the beauty from afar; you can actually live in it. Here’s a selection of the very best boutique and luxury hotels in Jaipur for design aficionados, curated by local Shalbha Sarda.

You might also be interested in best things to do in Jaipur for art and design lovers.

The best boutique and luxury hotels in Jaipur, India

1. Taj Rambagh Palace | Bhawani Singh Road

If palaces could flirt, Rambagh would do it best. Built for a king but dazzling enough for the gods, Jaipur’s Taj Rambagh Palace is not just India’s jewel, but repeatedly nominated as one of the best hotels in the world for its glorious history and high glamour.

Placed in the dead centre of the city, the palace was once the home of the erstwhile king Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and his queen Maharani Gayatri Devi (voted as one of the most beautiful women of her time). Her garden tea parties with polo players were all very Bridgerton-esque. It still continues to host its fair share of royalties from across the world. From Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to Prince Charles, now King Charles III, all have stayed in one of the luxury suites.

The palace is a mash-up in the best way possible, Rajput revival meets Indo-Saracenic flair with a sprinkle of Mughal artistry for good measure. One minute, you are gliding past marble latticework worthy of the Taj Mahal; the next, you are gazing up at Venetian frescoes and chandeliers so grand that Versailles would be envious. 

We think that the evenings at Rambagh are where it really sparkles with folk dancers twirling under the stars, gardens lit by a sea of tealights. Dinner at Suvarna Mahal is as close to a royal banquet as it gets, serving recipes from royal houses across the country.

Discover more about Taj Rambagh Palace or Book through Booking.com

2. The Oberoi Rajvilas | Goner

The Oberoi Rajvilas does not have a historical connection, but it has earned its place as a legend in its own right. Opened in 1997, it quickly made headlines when Bill Clinton, the then US President, stayed in one of its suites. With 71 rooms, Rajvilas is expansive yet feels like a private retreat, set across 32 acres of Mughal-inspired gardens filled with fountains, reflection pools and sandstone pavilions. 

At its heart lies an 18th-century temple, beautifully preserved, where marble-clad luxury tents echo the nomadic camps of Rajput royals. Step through its arched wooden gates, and the bustle of Jaipur vanishes. A moat, wild mango trees, and more than 120 peacocks set the stage for you. The design nods to Rajasthan’s Nayla Fort (a nearby fortress also owned by the Oberoi family). Think pink lime-plaster walls, Mughal arches, domed pavilions and glittering water channels. Jaipur Blue Pottery tiles are underfoot, and Austrian crystal chandeliers hang overhead.

We recommend cosying up in the evening at the Rajwada Library Bar with a rose-infused gin in hand, perhaps over a game of backgammon by the fire. Then move on to dinner at Surya Mahal, where a wide menu of international, Indian and Asian dishes awaits.

Find out more about The Oberoi Rajvilas or Book through Booking.com 

3. Johri | Lal Haveli, Johri Bazaar

When it opened in 2020, this 19th-century haveli was one of the first to show the world what boutique luxury could mean in a city already strewn with grand palace hotels. It did not just compete, it inspired some of them.

What makes The Johri stand out is its story, which is not of royalty, but of traders who dealt in gemstones by the light of oil lamps nearly 300 years ago. Their shops still shape Jaipur today, and The Johri, a merchant’s mansion from that same era, sits at the very heart of its namesake market, Johri Bazaar, within the walled city of Jaipur.

Each suite takes its cue from a gemstone: ruby, emerald, sapphire, with jewel-toned fabrics, scalloped arches, antique wooden doors, and terrazzo floors. A small temple, precious hand-crafted jewellery, and rooms wrapped around a central courtyard keep the merchant’s world alive, while whimsical touches like retro light switches and an upholstered swing preserve the charm of a lived-in home.

The Johri & Sons bar and restaurant offer a fresh spin on Rajasthani vegetarian cuisine for both locals and travellers. Bite-sized kachoris arrive with truffle-slicked dips, while saffron pumpkin shorba feels like autumn in a cup. Cocktails are as playful as the interiors, think saffron liquor served on desert sand with camel’s milk feta, or a margarita punched up with Mathaniya chilli and softened by jaggery. From wood apple coolers in the heat of summer to spiced broths in the winter, the menu stays in step with Jaipur’s shifting seasons.

Learn more about The Johri 

4. The Leela Palace Jaipur | Kukas

Walk through the sprawling courtyards of The Leela Palace Jaipur, and you cannot help but wonder, whose palace is this? Which royal lived here? But this one was built for you. Not a historical palace in the same sense, The Leela Palace Jaipur has all the paraphernalia of a grand palace, the history of the city, and also modern-day luxuries. Set against the Aravalli Hills in the quiet resort town of Kukas, this is where we recommend you go when you want the grandeur of Jaipur without the chaos of the city.

The microcosmic form of Jaipur’s aesthetic is wrapped in its 200-room sprawl, with Amber Fort-inspired domes, marble colonnades and hand-painted frescoes. The palace boasts a vast inventory of private pool villas, making it the perfect place to cool off from the desert heat.

The recently opened restaurant Jamavar (revamped from Mohan Mahal) is candlelit, shimmering with 350,000 hand-cut thikri (mirrors) and gold leaf ceilings. It’s an ode to the Sheesh Mahal, the Palace of Mirrors in Amber Fort. Live music, royal vibes and dishes inspired by the heritage cuisines of the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir make it a special dining experience.

Find out more about The Leela Palace Jaipur or Book through Booking.com

5. Raffles Jaipur | Kukas

On a full moon night, Raffles Jaipur might just trick you into thinking it is the Taj Mahal, if the Taj were a palace meant to be lived in, not as a mausoleum. From the outside, it plays coy: mirrored doors, discreet façades, and an entrance that keeps its secrets until you step through a modest marquee into a collonaded court with fountains.

A slight detour from the hustle of the main city, Raffles Jaipur is located in Kukas and offers eight categories, each with eighteen distinct layouts. Expect private plunge pools, outdoor bathtubs, sprawling bathrooms with double marble sinks and silver-coated tubs.

Guests arrive first at the Great Hall, a polygonal room where frescoed ceilings bloom with birds and flowers, a grand Moroccan lamp overhead, and scalloped arches line the walls. Then there is the Safir Atrium Tea & Champagne Lounge. This soaring three-storey glass atrium diffuses desert sunlight into a soft glow, illuminating the towering palms flanking its sides. Safir is also the only place in South Asia where you can enjoy exquisite teas from the London Tea Exchange.

The Writer’s Bar, a Raffles signature, is reimagined here as part bar, part library, inspired by the City Palace’s royal quarters called the Chhavi Niwas. Blue and white monochrome walls, frescoed florals, and a moody atmosphere set the perfect scene for rare drinks. Try the century-old Louis XIII Cognac, along with their signature Jaipur Sling, a variation of the Raffles Singapore Sling.

Discover more about Raffles Jaipur or Book through Booking.com

6. Padmaa | Chaura Raasta

Another merchant’s mansion is Jaipur’s newest boutique haunt, though not exactly new. The original Padmaa Haveli is almost as old as the city itself, dating back nearly 300 years.

It’s a revival of the city’s design sensibilities and architectural soul. Pastel pink walls, grid-like planning, traditional masonry arches, inlaid marble floors and hand-painted frescoes together distil Jaipur into 15 rooms around a calm central courtyard. 

The name Padmaa, meaning lotus in Hindi, holds many meanings. It honours the family matriarch and stands as a metaphor for rebirth, rooted in heritage yet blossoming into something contemporary.

Huddled within Jaipur’s narrow old-city lanes, where two people can barely walk abreast, Padmaa unfolds into rare luxuries seldom found in this part of town: a rooftop pool, an alfresco courtyard restaurant, and a chic bar. 

Since Padmaa was originally a home, the rooms vary in shape and size, each with its own character. Furnished differently from floor to fabric, the designers collaborated with local textile artists and artisans to create bespoke curtains, cushions, bedspreads, and rugs, all of which now form part of the hotel’s permanent collection.

Find out more about Padmaa or Book through Booking.com

7. Laalee | Gopalbari

Laalee lies where the old walled city once gave way to modern Jaipur at the Gopalbari area. However, it is neither old nor new Jaipur; instead, it is an artist’s imagination and spirit brought to life as a luxury boutique hotel.

The hotel is no traditional haveli. Instead, the three-storey home with nine rooms rises around a soaring double-height space, where a marble waterfall flows gently, and art fills the walls, ceilings and corners in abundance. Each room feels celebratory, named after festivals or inspired by motifs from pichwai (a devotional temple art form). Murals cover every surface, hand-painted by Shan Bhatnagar, the artist and owner himself, transforming the house into a living gallery.

We think that the stay feels both immersive and spiritual, an experience which will awe and calm you all at once. Little luxuries of life are tucked into the corners: a cosy bar and café, a small pool beside a quiet garden, and a rooftop terrace that opens to citywide views.

Adding a dash of flavour to the artistry, Shan’s wife, Devyani Bhatnagar, brings Kayasth cuisine (a blend of Mughal and regional influences) to the table at Laalee’s restaurant.

Learn more about Laalee or Book through Booking.com

8. RAAS Rajmahal Palace | C-Scheme

Jaipur’s most stylish secret, Raas Rajmahal Palace, is intimate in scale yet set within a palace that feels too grand for its few occupants. With just 13 rooms, including two extravagant Royal Apartments, the proportions are gloriously indulgent. Guests feel like they have been handed an entire palace to themselves.

Originally built in 1729 and later transformed into a royal guesthouse, the pastel pink Rajmahal Palace is a 1950s Art Deco expression of local heritage. Inside, it is a maximalist dream of wallpapers, bold palm prints, chevron stripes and florals, all layered within its hallowed walls with heritage furniture, straight out of a Wes Anderson montage.

The Colonnade restaurant offers all-day dining with a laid-back elegance, while 51 Shades of Pink is a playful and flamboyant experience. The Polo Lounge tips its hat to Jaipur’s polo heritage, serving cocktails, fine wines and rare spirits late into the night.

Find out more about RAAS Rajmahal Palace or Book through Booking.com

9. Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur | Sitapura

The first venture in India from the Southeast Asian luxury hospitality brand Anantara takes a striking turn from its usual minimalist, slow-luxury philosophy. While in Jaipur, subtlety always gives way to spectacle, and Anantara Jewel Bagh arrives in the form of a staggered palace.

Anantara is the opulent showcase of Jaipur. Here we love the carved façades, mirrored halls, hand-painted murals and gardens where water shimmers against sandstone. The idea is simple: transport guests into a royal past, without losing touch with the present.

At the heart of it lies Sheesh Mahal, inspired by the Palace of Mirrors at Amber Fort, where shimmering glass mosaics meet a menu that reinterprets traditional Rajasthani flavours with modern flair. For those craving the extraordinary, we recommend trying Designer Dining, which takes things up a notch. Four courses are served as you wander across lawns, gardens and historic-style halls, complete with music, décor and Champagne.

Discover more about Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur or Book through Booking.com

But wait, there’s more…

• Don’t miss all the best things to do in Delhi for design lovers
• We recently stayed at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi in Rome
• And these are the very best restaurants in London that we keep going back to